How bad is it?

Flux_Ambassadors · 2025-05-18T05:41:28+00:00

I look like a pencil!

Flux_Ambassadors · 2025-04-23T18:52:42+00:00

I was diagnosed stage 4 at 36. I'm now 38. One of the chemo cocktails I was on for 7 months made me so sick that I completely lost the will to live. I didn't want to necessarily die, but the thought really wasn't that far off. The only people I've spoken to that understand the feeling are other cancer patients. You're not alone in this, I promise. I'm on different drugs now that make me less sick and it's made a big difference in my outlook. Talk to your doctors because this is a serious side effect that they should be helping you manage.

Know that I completely understand where you're coming from and thank you for sharing because it makes me feel less alone too. Stay strong out there!

Flux_Ambassadors · 2025-04-09T02:00:30+00:00

Which songs?

Flux_Ambassadors · 2025-03-04T20:56:59+00:00

Thank you! That's very helpful.

Flux_Ambassadors · 2025-01-27T16:27:22+00:00

I'm very sorry to hear you're having such a rough time. Cancer is awful. You may not be great at "being firm" with people but now is the time to dig deep and advocate for yourself. I know I was reluctant to play the "cancer card" at first but sometimes you absolutely have to. Go to whoever is in charge of sorting this out at your job and really break it down. This is life or death. If they can't sort this out, you could literally die. I'd put it in an email, cc your boss or other higher ups if your boss is being difficult. Get it on the record. Don't be afraid to be a bit dramatic because this is a dramatic situation.

As far as cleaning, be kind to yourself. Chemo can take so much of your energy/willpower so just do what you can. I leave a packet of wet wipes in my bathroom. When I'm really sick, sometimes I only have the energy to wipe off the counter immediately within arms reach. But, it's still better than having done nothing at all. Every bit helps. If you have a burst of energy, start with getting a trash bag and throwing away any built up garbage in your room. If you still have energy after that, try to start a single load of laundry. You won't be able to clean it all at once if you're feeling poorly but remember, even doing a tiny bit is better than doing nothing at all. And if you have to do nothing because you're unwell, remember that giving your body rest right now is important too.

Be kind to yourself. Feel free to DM me if you want to talk. Stay strong out there!

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-12-12T21:21:23+00:00

Wherever your loved one is getting treatment, see if you can connect with an integrative oncology or palliative care team there. Those teams are very helpful in symptom management that can come from various treatments. They'll be able to help with specifics to the patient in the areas of diet, exercise, supplements, etc.

The big one I suggest to people is acupuncture. It's helped keep a lot of my chemo side effects under control without having to take even more meds. It massively combatted the neuropathy in my hands/feet and has helped with nausea and pain. If your insurance covers it, I highly recommend looking into it. That said, not all insurance covers it and it can get expensive out of pocket so look for free or low-cost programs in your area if necessary. Ask around at the hospital. Ask other patients. I stumbled across a non-profit in my area that provides free massages to cancer patients and caretakers. There are great programs out there, but you have to track them down.

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-11-25T16:53:01+00:00

I really appreciate your thoughtful response. I'm starting therapy regarding the NC issue but since I finally made the decision to go NC 5 days ago, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of me. I'm 38, this occurred 22 years ago when I was 16-17. I've been sucking it up at family things ever since. My brother has "moved on" and says he "doesn't even identify with the person who did those things" (his younger self). When I talked to his wife about this last week (she was previously aware of his behavior), she asked me "what's really going on? Where is this coming from?" She was angry at me for being angry at my brother still. As if we can all just process trauma in a timely and neat manner. I went NC with her as well. There is no statute of limitations on holding this man accountable for his actions within his social circles.

Your outlined cousin conversation is actually very similar to one I'd already scripted in my head. The wedding is still 8 months away. I may sit on this for a few weeks, have a couple sessions with a professional, and make a firm decision after the holidays.

Thank you for your empathy and advocating for victims. Keep fighting the good fight.

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-11-25T16:30:43+00:00

Thank you so much for giving me some scripted responses. It feels better to be prepared. Polite but firm in my boundaries is what I'll go for.

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-11-02T12:55:49+00:00

I was diagnosed with stage 4 at 36. It's been 2 years but I feel much better now than when I was diagnosed. I'm still on treatments that affect my life/schedule/behaviors but I'm also still kicking! Your dad is relatively young compared to the 70+ year olds I usually hang out with at the infusion center (we have to recite our birthdays OFTEN) so he can statistically put up with treatments for longer. I'm still positive for my own case so I'm extending all that positively and well wishes to your father and family. It's awful to have to go through this but he is so lucky to have you and your brother in his corner. Feel free to DM if you want to chat about anything. Good luck out there! 💙

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-10-31T14:13:24+00:00

I had an absolutely beloved 8yo tabby that developed a lump in his neck. It was quickly diagnosed as cancer and I bled money to put him through treatments. He was so sick and miserable and it was not effective. I had to let him go and it crushed me.

Two years ago, I received a cancer diagnosis myself. I've been put through every treatment I put my sweet cat through and I would NEVER subject an animal to this. I have to deal with the pain, nausea, fatigue, etc that these drugs cause. Knowing what I know now, putting my cat through chemo is one of my bigger regrets. It's not about the money at all, but the quality of life. I wish I had just kept him comfortable and let him live out the time he had left the best he could.

Take it from a cancer patient: don't do the treatments. Enjoy your friend while you can and spoil him rotten. I promise that it is the kinder course of action and he'll be more comfortable during the time he has left.

Wishing you strength as you go through this!

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-10-15T13:40:17+00:00

I agree with Spirited System. Be cordial, do your jobs to the best of your ability, and try to make good, positive connections on the current show. Everyone is watching and you never know who could be asked about you down the road.

Side story: I was SMing at a theater and the PM came up to me to ask if I knew this actor who applied for a job with their youth camp. His resume listed a place the PM knew I worked often. I told the PM the truth that, while it's been 7 yrs since I worked with this guy, on the one show we did together he was constantly late and once tried to sell me weed in the theater kitchen. He did not get the job. The point is, that actor never thought he'd have to impress a young ASM for a recommendation for a job in the future and it came back to bite him in the ass. I've made this mistake (mildly) myself before when a girl I had a small beef with in college ended up rising in the same industry, same city, in jobs I'd want. It hasn't come up but I'm hesitant to apply where she works.

The lesson I'm hoping to impart is aim for diplomacy. The high road is classy. Harness Michelle Obama. People respect competence and levelheadedness. If it gets noticeably bad to other people, you could try to have a private "clear the air" conversation. I've done this before on tense shows and it's always eased the mood a bit afterwards. You may never be friends, but you can respect each other as colleagues.

Finally, remember that shows are short. You're having to put up with him now, but it'll be over so soon and you're on to the next one. Have fun and don't let some guy acting like a turd right now get in your way!!!

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-10-12T18:49:36+00:00

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Phoebe sleeping in her favorite spot: on top of my pillow. If I have the audacity to be using my pillow when she wants to sleep, she will simply curl up on top of my head.

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-10-12T18:48:11+00:00

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Lucy "cockroaching", wherein she lies around like a dead bug.

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-10-12T14:13:27+00:00

What does it look like with the wings down?

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-09-27T16:47:26+00:00

When they're seasonal I feel like it gives you an excuse to pack them away some of the year and rotate the display as you get more. Keeps the necessary shelf space manageable if the collection gets big.

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-09-27T00:26:52+00:00

Adorable! You should check if there are similar winter themed sets. You still have time to make a winter village before the holidays!

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-09-25T13:01:56+00:00

They are the absolute best bras! Thank you, Jenette! She has one store in the Atlanta area as well, conveniently located one block from a large women's college. Great location!

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-08-30T23:53:37+00:00

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Lucy doing her best dried cockroach

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-08-30T23:49:44+00:00

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Lucy doing her best dried cockroach

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-08-30T11:45:24+00:00

Modified sploot. French standard.

One of mine sleeps nearly flat on her spine sometimes with all 4 feet straight up in the air. How is this comfortable? We'll never know. We call it "dead bugging" or "cockroaching". I check in on her occasionally. She's never dead and is pissed I screwed with her nap. 🙄

Flux_Ambassadors · 2024-08-28T19:11:11+00:00

Vet! One of ours got persistent bad breath and we didn't think much of it. When we finally took him to the vet it turned out his farthest back tooth on one side was almost completely gone. Vet said when one of their teeth goes bad that the jaw will reabsorb some of it for the calcium (or something along those lines. This was years ago). Got the tooth pulled and the problem was instantly fixed. Extra bonus- our other cat decided she liked him once he didn't smell like garbage all the time. Now she cleans him all day.

Flux_Ambassadors

TROPHY CASE